Tim Howard did have some work to do in goal in the second half, as the game began to become a bit more stretched, prompting a reliance on counter-attacking play, but the usa was able to absorb most of the pressure thrown at them.
Advertisement
Next on the Schedule: The U.S. MNT gets set for CONCACAF’s Final Round of Qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with an historic visit to take on Cuba in Havana on Friday, Oct. 7 on ESPN and Univision Networks (Time TBD).
17 years, 349 days – Christian Pulisic’s age when he became the youngest player in MNT history to score in a World Cup Qualifier, tallying twice in the MNT’s 6-0 win at St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It was just out of the reach of a sliding Bobby Wood, but 17-year-old Christian Pulisic was there to knock it on goal. He was by far the best player on the pitch for either side, and offered the USMNT an offensive weapon they’ve likely never had before.
The Soca Warriors had the first effort of the game in the seventh minute when Joevin Jones blasted a shot from distance, but Howard had no problems handling it.
Kljestan capitalized on a failed clearance to poke in a left-footer, his sixth worldwide goal, in the 44th minute. the sequence started on a throw-in, Fabian Johnson continuing into the penalty area, the Soca Warriors sending the clearance directly to Kljestan near the penalty spot.
Pulisic, who was lighting social media up all night long, suffered from an incredible lack of luck when he rang a shot off both posts in the 30th minute with the match still scoreless.
With that goal in the bank, the floodgates opened for the MNT in the second half. Kljestan quickly gathered it and tucked it home to put the USMNT up 1-0 just before the half.
Paul Arriola, a second-half substitution for Alejandro Bedoya, got his first qualifying goal in the 71st minute.
Altidore’s night wasn’t finished yet, and minutes later he added another to his newly-minted record. The first was set up by a perfectly placed ground pass across the field to Jozy by Fabian Johnson.
In the 52nd minute, Altidore, a former Red Bull, turned for a point-blank shot that was saved. He assisted on Altidore’s second goal.
The 26-year-old striker reached 16 career goals in World Cup qualifying, moving two past Clint Dempsey to own the USA record.
Kljestan put the US ahead in the 44th minute, and Altidore doubled the lead off Fabian Johnson’s cross in the 59th.
Trinidad and Tobago sits atop the group with 11 points and a guaranteed spot in the Hex.
Advertisement
As for Kevin Molino and his countrymen, well, they also qualified for the Hex by finishing second in Group C.
